BBC Radio 6 Music returns to pre-lockdown schedule

BBC Radio 6 Music will return to its pre-lockdown schedule on Monday 7th September.

Chris Hawkins will revert to his usual weekday time-slot of 5am-7.30am and Lauren Laverne will present her breakfast show once again from 7.30am-10.30am, Monday-Friday.

Weekdays will now feature both Mary Anne Hobbs (10.30am-1pm) and Shaun Keaveny (1pm-4pm).

Steve Lamacq will continue to broadcast from 4pm-7pm.

At weekends from Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September, Chris Hawkins will be on air from 5am-7am, followed by Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, from 7am-10am.

Saturdays will see The Huey Show, with Huey Morgan, broadcast from 10am-1pm, with Liz Kershaw returning to her pre-lockdown timeslot of 1pm-3pm. Gilles Peterson will be back on air from Saturday 5th September to present from 3pm-6pm.

Cerys Matthews’ programme will air from 10am-1pm each Sunday. Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour returns to the previous, earlier timeslot for 2pm-4pm and Amy Lamé makes a welcome return to Sunday afternoons on 6 Music, from 4pm-6pm. Now Playing with Tom Robinson will air from 6pm-8pm.

On Thursday 10th September, 6 Music will celebrate independent artists, labels and venues with State of Independents Day. Right across the schedule, from Lauren Laverne’s show (7.30am-10.30am) through to Marc Riley’s show (7pm-9pm), 6 Music will shine a light on the challenges and opportunities currently facing the independent music industry, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, says “I am immensely proud of all of the presenters and production teams at 6 Music for continuing to create brilliant programmes with the best music throughout this very challenging time.

“I’m very happy to say that from Monday 7th September, all of our presenters will be on-air once again. The pandemic has impacted everybody in different ways and as we return to our pre-lockdown schedule, we’ll be taking the opportunity on the 10th September, to reflect on how COVID-19 has impacted the independent music sector and all those who work within it – from venues, to record shops, labels and artists themselves – with our State of Independents Day.”

Tracks played throughout the day on State of Independents Day will be exclusively from independent artists and artists signed to independent labels.

State of Independents Day highlights will include exclusive live recordings and DJ mixes performed by independent artists from their homes and studios. These will be broadcast throughout the day.

In addition, Shaun Keaveny will play out tracks performed and recorded in the BBC’s Radio Theatre by South London poet and singer Arlo Parks, who is signed to independent label Transgressive Records.

Elsewhere in the schedule on Thursday 10th September, Lauren Laverne will have a special State of Independents themed People’s Playlist, whilst her regular feature Business Time will focus on independent retailers and record shops.

Mary Anne Hobbs will explore how the pandemic has affected club culture, look at the concepts of socially distant and online clubbing and will hear from independent clubs, DJs and promoters from around the UK about how they have been connecting with their communities over the past months.

Steve Lamacq will highlight some of the initiatives that are working during this challenging time to support grass roots venues and the people behind them – from riggers, to promoters and sound engineers and Marc Riley will reflect on his experience running an independent label and discuss the challenges of releasing a new record in the current climate with Henry Dartnall from the band Young Knives.

Matt Everitt will also present a special edition of Music News in each programme, with features exploring a different side of the independent music scene, from record shops to clubs, labels and venues.

In addition, in the lead up to State of Independents day, on the 6th September, Jehnny Beth will co-host Now Playing with Tom Robinson, from 5pm-8pm. This special programme, titled Live Music, We Miss You, will see Jehnny curate a playlist dedicated to listeners favourite live moments, tracks and venues.

She’ll also be compiling a half hour mix of her own selection of tracks and the show will end with highlights of her set at the Roundhouse earlier this year at the 6 Music Festival.